I like Scotland. I have cheered them on in every major tournament since the 1974 World Cup in Germany out of some allegiance to my Edinburgh born grandfather. They tend not to do things the easy way and have made life difficult for their long suffering fans. Zaire (‘74), Iran (’78), Uruguay (’86) and Costa Rica (’98) are some names and dates to send shivers down the collective spines of the Tartan Army. They even had the temerity to take the lead against Brazil in 1982 before being outclassed 4-1. The game against the Czech Republic last Saturday has been added to their long list of glorious failures. With seven minutes remaining Darren Fletcher gave Scotland a 2-1 lead. A win would have kept them in contention for qualification for next summer’s finals. It was not to be. The Scots conceded a last minute penalty which the Czechs subsequently scored. That the penalty should not have been awarded added to the Scots sense of injustice. Yes, Dutch referee, Kevin Blom was wrong to award the penalty, but the real culprit was Jan Rezek. It was Rezek who dived to con Blom. He is a cheat. His blatant dive deserves a rebuke from UEFA/FIFA, and warrants some sort of suspension. Under the current laws of the game none will be forthcoming. The world governing body needs to introduce retroactive punishment for any player like Rezak, who quite clearly, was found to have benefited by cheating.

The Daily Record, that bastion of Scottish media integrity vilified Blom in its match reports. The paper even declared Blom as “the most hated man in Scotland.” Strong words for sure and ones that will make Neil Lennon a relieved man, at least until the next Celtic-Rangers game. Blom made a mistake in awarding the Czech Republic the late penalty just as he made a mistake in not awarding them an earlier one for a Charlie Adam foul. The criticism of the ref was over the top and a bit of perspective was needed by the Daily Record.Gary Cook had it all. He was Chief Executive of Manchester City ‘08, the world’s richest club. He got to spend other people’s money, when signing the world’s best players, as he helped build City’s global brand. He was able to run a club with the stated goal of becoming the best in the world. Cook was the epitome of a Premier League executive in an era when money talked, especially lots of it. Cook was arrogant, was hated by most City fans and despised by the real football fans who knew of him. He resigned in shame this week, for allegedly sending an email mocking the cancer stricken mother of City’s Nedum Onuoha. Good riddance!

The transfer window slammed shut last week with Man United, Man City ‘08, Liverpool, and Stoke City the big winners in terms of who they signed. The biggest winner of all? Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy. From day one of the transfer window he told Chelsea ’03 and other would be suitors that Luka Modric was not for sale, for any price. Despite a media campaign to undermine Levy’s position, he and Spurs held on to Modric. He may yet leave White Hart Lane, but will do so on the club’s terms. The fact that Spurs held on to Modric was good for football itself and Levy went some way to reigning in the player and agent power. For once I feel sorry for Arsene Wenger. He took over Arsenal Football Club in the aftermath of the George Graham era. He changed the philosophy of the club from “lucky” and “boring” to one that all but those in London N17 admire. He overhauled the club’s youth development and scouting network. He oversaw the move from antiquated Highbury to the brand new Emirates. Wenger laid what he thought were the foundations that would allow Arsenal to dominate football for many years. They didn’t and won’t. He did not foresee Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan taking over failing clubs, wiping out their debts and making Chelsea ’03 and Man City ’08 respectively, the two richest clubs in the world. They changed the EPL overnight and despite Arsenal being a well run club they find themselves as also-rans behind the two lottery winners. UEFA and FIFA financial fair play rules cannot be implemented soon enough.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea ‘03 and Man City ‘08 spent big in the transfer window as they all chase the Premier League title, or a place in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League. At least one of the five teams will not make it. What cost will that failure be for the team that misses out? Two weeks ago MLS had crowds of 36,000 (Seattle), 20,000 (Vancouver), 21,000 (Toronto), 20,000 (Kansas) and 15,000 (Chicago) watch games in those cities. This past weekend four teams had attendances over 20,000. In fact, Seattle’s home crowd of 36,000 was more than the combined attendances of five games in the Scottish Premier League. The attendances compare favorably and in many cases are higher, than all but the top teams in England, Italy and Spain. Once again, it is a demonstration that soccer has a legitimate fan base in North America. Asamoah Gyan left Sunderland to go on loan to play for Al Ain in the UAE. Fans on the radio and forums in the UK are livid with the player for daring to leave the EPL for more money to play in the Middle East. Apparently it is okay to move from North London to Manchester or West London to double and triple one’s wages, but not to move from Wearside to Dubai. Hypocrites!

The English media would be better served venting their disgust at someone like Wayne Bridge. Bridge is supposedly being paid 90,000 pounds per week by Man City ’08 to do nothing. He refused to go out on loan to teams in Scotland, Turkey and the Championship. He may be honoring his contract by remaining at City, but he has no chance of playing on a regular basis and seems not to be interested in the possibility of doing so. Wayne Bridge is the new poster child for the greedy players who ply their trade in the EPL.And while the English media are at it, why are they not more critical of Steve Bruce? He is a poor manager, with a poor record of loyalty, a poor record for success relative to the money he has spent and questions need to be asked why players like Darren Bent and Gyan wanted out of the Stadium of Light. Of course, the fact he is English and the fact he is a former captain of Man United has nothing to do with the kid gloves treatment he receives from the English media.